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Michael J. Fox Looks For A Parkinson's Cure In Israel

Tue, 22 May 2007 09:17:21 +0300

Movie star Michael J. Fox is planning a secret trip to Israel in a last-ditch effort to find a cure for the Parkinson's Disease that has ravaged his body. The Back To The Future star's hopes of finding a cure in America were dashed last year when politicians voted not to pass legislation allowing stem-cell research - something Fox and his supporters were fighting for.
So the actor is looking elsewhere for medical help - in a bid to halt his neurological problems, before they put him in a wheelchair for life. The 45-year-old is hoping a Jerusalem-based scientist, who has been researching the disease for years, can find a breakthrough, and has handed the expert over $1 million from his Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
Source :
http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2007/05/18/michael_j_fox_looks_for_a_parkinson_s_cu

Michael J. Fox Foundation Continues To Lead Search For Biomarkers Of Parkinson's Disease

info@partnerwithastar.com — Tue, 10 Apr 2007 11:19:31 +0300

The Michael J. Fox Foundation today announced the launch of Biomarkers 2007, a two-year, $2-million funding program dedicated to research toward the discovery of an objective biomarker, or "biological fingerprint," of Parkinson's disease. This is the third funding round under the Foundation's Biomarkers program designed to drive discovery of this crucial resource, which the Parkinson's field currently lacks.
"Discovering a definitive biomarker for Parkinson's disease is critical," said Sarah Orsay, MJFF's chief executive officer. "By adding this tool to the Parkinson's research 'toolbox,' we would gain the ability to objectively diagnose PD and to more accurately measure its progression. And we would remove a significant hurdle to effective clinical testing of new therapies, particularly treatments with potential to slow or stop the disease rather than just mask its symptoms."
Keep on reading at :
http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/medicalnews.php?newsid=67235

ParkinSong was inspired by Michael J. Fox

info@partnerwithastar.com — Fri, 23 Mar 2007 13:50:31 +0200

Watching the effects of a debilitating disease up close made Parkinson's very personal for actor Richard Kind, launching him into action.
"Why am doing this? Well, I watched Parkinson's overtake the life and the career of somebody I worked very closely with"
http://www.philly.com/inquirer/weekend/20070316_ParkinSong_was_inspired_by_Michael_J__Fox.html

Leadership program opens

info@partnerwithastar.com — Thu, 22 Mar 2007 20:27:20 +0200

As center President and CEO Michael J. Fox showed him around, Graham said, he discovered that it is about the same thing he is -- providing youth with the skills to reach their full potential.

The center, said Fox, is about a sense of self, a sense of others and a sense of purpose.

"This program epitomizes the foundation of the center," he said.

http://www.courier-journal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070121/NEWS01/701210468/-1/ALI

Actor Michael J. Fox discusses his foundation for Parkinson's disease research.

info@partnerwithastar.com — Fri, 9 Mar 2007 12:52:58 +0200

Foundation for Parkinson's Research is dedicated to ensuring the development of a cure for Parkinson's disease .Actor Michael J. Fox discusses his foundation for Parkinson's disease research.
Click here to wach the impressive video:
"Become-a-Partner-with-Michael-Fox-Multimedia.html"

Neurocrine Biosciences Receives Award From Michael J. Fox Foundation for A2A Research in Parkinson's Disease

info@partnerwithastar.com — Wed, 31 Jan 2007 12:46:50 +0200

Neurocrine Biosciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:NBIX) announced today that the Company was awarded a grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) to study the potential neuroprotective effects of adenosine A2A receptor antagonists in models of Parkinson's disease. With this award, Neurocrine will evaluate the neuroprotective effects of A2A antagonists in preclinical models of Parkinson's disease, specifically to assess their potential to modify early disease progression. This may also help to guide the preclinical selection of drug candidates in which both symptom relief and neuroprotective actions have been optimized.

Michael J Fox funds research on Parkinson's disease

info@partnerwithastar.com — Fri, 26 Jan 2007 08:58:50 +0200

A charity set up by Hollywood actor Michael J Fox has awarded a grant to a subsidiary of a Singapore-listed company to help find a cure for Parkinson's disease using embryonic stem cells, ES Cell International (ESI) .
The Michael J Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research awarded the $660,000 grant to Israel-based Cell Cure Neurosciences, a subsidiary of Singapore-incorporated ESI. The grant will fund research on the use of embryonic stem cells for the treatment of Parkinson's disease, according to The Business Times.

Leadership program opens

info@partnerwithastar.com — Mon, 22 Jan 2007 13:28:30 +0200

As center President and CEO Michael J. Fox showed him around, Graham said, he discovered that it is about the same thing he is -- providing youth with the skills to reach their full potential.
The center, said Fox, is about a sense of self, a sense of others and a sense of purpose. "This program epitomizes the foundation of the center," he said.

Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

info@partnerwithastar.com — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 19:42:20 +0200

The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research is dedicated to ensuring the development of a cure for Parkinson's disease within this decade through an aggressively funded research agenda. Enormous progress toward finding a cure has been made on many neurological fronts, and scientists' understanding of the brain and how disease affects it has increased dramatically. The Foundation seeks to hasten progress further by awarding grants that help guarantee that new and innovative research avenues are thoroughly funded and explored. Actor Michael J. Fox established the Foundation in May 2000.
Over $86 million funded since November 2000 directly or through partnerships.

The Scientific Advisory Board (SAB) directs the Foundation's research efforts in three primary areas that span basic and translational science:
- Detecting and preventing Parkinson's disease;
- Restoring dopamine neurons and their functioning; and
- Reducing complications of treatment.

Charity pits Hollywood vs. hockey vets

info@partnerwithastar.com — Mon, 20 Nov 2006 19:33:39 +0200

BUFFALO (AP) It was difficult to tell who was more excited: Michael J. Fox for playing alongside former Buffalo Sabres star Gilbert Perreault, or the other way around.

"Man, it's very cool.It's thrilling," Fox said Saturday after meeting Perreault, a member of the Sabres' famed French Connection of the 1970s. "I mean, I'm skating with the French Connection today. Give me a break. It's just insane. That's nuts. I love it."

The feeling was more than mutual.

"I had a big thrill playing with him," Perreault said. "He's got a lot of guts. And good luck to him. He's a wonderful man."

Hollywood met Hockey Legends in Buffalo as part of former Sabres captain Pat LaFontaine's Champions in Courage charity game to raise money for Buffalo Women and Children's Hospital.

The event, which included a corporate game and banquet on Friday, raised more than $200,000 for LaFontaine's goal of building a computer playroom for children at the hospital the NHL Hall-of-Famer regularly visited while playing for the Sabres in the 1990s.

And Fox's participation added a special significance to the game.

He's the Back to the Future, Family Ties and Spin City star who remains active while suffering from Parkinson's disease, a chronic disorder of the central nervous system that causes tremors, stiffness and loss of balance.

"Very inspiring," Perreault said. "He's a great gentleman."

Fox might have curtailed his acting career since retiring from Spin City in 2000, but he still enjoys an occasional game of hockey. This was his second time on the ice in the past two months after participating in comedian-actor Denis Leary's charity game in Boston.

Fox, however, is the first to poke fun at his hockey prowess, going back to his days growing up in Canada.

"I played in Ontario and then in Alberta and in Vancouver, and I never got good wherever I played," Fox said with a laugh.

What he lacked in grace, speed and a scoring touch on Saturday, he made up for in perseverance, playing a regular shift at right wing, first with LaFontaine as his center and then with Perreault.

Fox failed to convert several golden opportunities before finally scoring late in the game. Parked in front, he stuffed in his own rebound to make the score 6-4 in an exhibition game that ended 7-7.

At 43, Fox joked that age might be affecting his game more than anything. He spent most of his time either in the neutral and offensive zones.

"When you get into your 40s, it becomes a positional game," Fox said. "If I stay in one place, the play is going to come around soon enough."

Fox has established his own charitable foundation and works as an advocate to support stem cell research, touted as a potential cure for Parkinson's.

This past summer and fall, Fox campaigned in support of California's Proposition 71, a bond measure that passed last month, and is expected to provide $3 billion over the next 10 years to the state's stem cell researchers.

Fox said he was encouraged by the California vote, believing it will have an influence at the national level in what remains a hotly debated issue.

"My point has always been whether you like or don't like this, and I think you should like it, but it's going to happen," Fox said. "And it's going to happen with our oversight, with our funding and supervision or without it. ... And if it happens with our supervision, it'll be less of a problem." (Related site: Michael J. Fox Foundation

Fox has earned LaFontaine's respect.

"His courage inspires so many people in the world," LaFontaine said. "He's taken something that happens to him and he still considers himself tremendously lucky. ... The courage that he shows, taking what has happened to him and turning it into a positive, it's truly amazing."

Change Agents - Michael J. Fox and Deborah Brooks

info@partnerwithastar.com — Wed, 20 Dec 2006 19:16:32 +0200

Michael J. Fox isn't just another movie star promoting a pet cause. He and his colleague Deborah Brooks are reshaping the pace and logic of research devoted to curing Parkinson's disease.

From: October 2001 | Page 106 | By: Keith H. Hammonds

The problem, basically, comes down to dopamine. Deep inside the human brain, there is a small, dark-colored cluster called the substantia nigra. Normally, neurons in the substantia nigra produce dopamine, a chemical that helps transmit signals that allow smooth physical movements. In the brains of the estimated one million Americans with Parkinson's disease, substantia-nigra cells grow weak and die--and they stop producing dopamine as a result. Muscles tense and contract, making movements painful and jerky. Involuntary tremors flare up. Once-automatic actions turn unpredictable so washing or dressing can take hours. Balance and coordination are impaired, sometimes severely so; patients often lean forward or backward, falling over easily.

Parkinson's disease is degenerative, which means that its effects grow progressively more severe. Although its symptoms were first identified nearly two centuries ago, no one yet understands why the substantia-nigra cells die. No one knows how to stop the degeneration. No one has perfected a way to replace the absent dopamine without harmful side effects.

That is, Parkinson's disease is incurable. This is not the same thing as saying there is no cure. No--it's just that no one has figured it out. Yet.

Fast Company: The word "degenerative" seems terrifying. How did you react to it at first? How do you react to it now?
Michael J. Fox: It is a terrifying word. Like "decay" or "deteriorate," the sense of loss is frightening. But it also implies a process occurring over time--that there is time, you have some time, and so you want to use it well.